Humidifier and method for controlling same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are a humidifier and a control method of a humidifier providing with the hygienic humidification since it is possible to completely evaporate water remaining in a water tub because a humidifying element of a humidifier is disposed adjacent to the bottom of the water tub, further, since the humidifier has a structure configured to raise the humidifying element over the water surface of the water tub after the end of the humidifying operation, it is possible to provide the hygienic humidification without contamination of the humidifying element.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application is a 371 National Stage of InternationalApplication No. PCT/KR2016/009787 filed Sep. 1, 2016, which claimspriority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0126090, filed Sep. 7,2015, the disclosures of which are fully incorporated herein byreference into the present disclosure as if fully set forth herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an evaporative humidifier configuredto perform humidification by naturally vaporizing water without usingultrasonic waves and a heater, and a control method thereof.

BACKGROUND

An evaporative humidifier is provided with a humidifying element forabsorbing water and a blowing fan for forcedly flowing indoor air sothat the humidification is performed by allowing dry air in the indoorto pass through the humidifying element absorbing water and to bedischarged to the indoor, again.

Generally, the humidifying element is rotatably provided inside a bodyof the evaporative humidifier, and supplied with water stored in thewater tank while rotating. Conventionally, methods, in which thehumidifying element is supplied with water, may be roughly classifiedinto two types.

First, a lower portion of the humidifying element is immersed in thewater of the water tub, and thus the humidifying element directlyabsorbs the water of the water tub. Second, the humidifying element isprovided not to be immersed in water and a water pocket disposed in anouter periphery of the humidifying element is configured to pump up thewater in the water tub and then supply the water to an upper portion ofthe humidifying element.

As for the former method, there may be a risk of reproducing fungi andbacteria because the lower portion of the humidifying element isimmerged although the humidifying function is stopped. The latter methodmay be cleaner than the former method but, as for the both methods,since the water remains in the water tub after the humidifying functionis stopped, there may be a risk of reproducing the fungi and bacteria,and the water tub may be contaminated by the remaining water.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to providing a humidifier having astructure in which a water tub is not contaminated by water remaining inthe water tub after a humidifying operation of the humidifier isterminated, and a control method thereof

Further, the present disclosure is directed to providing a humidifierhaving a structure in which a humidifying element is not contaminated bywater remaining in a water tub after a humidifying operation isterminated, and a control method thereof.

One aspect of the present invention provides a humidifier including abody, a water tub provided inside of the body to store water, and ahumidifying element rotatably provided inside of the body and configuredto perform humidification by absorbing water from the water tub, whereinthe humidifying element is disposed such that an outer circumferencethereof is adjacent to a bottom of the water tub to absorb water in thebottom of the water tub.

Preferably, the humidifying element may be disposed such that an outercircumference thereof is in contact with a bottom of the water tub.

In addition, the humidifier may further include a water tank configuredto supply water to the water tub, and a blocking device configured toblock a water outlet of the water tank to prevent water from beingsupplied to the water tub.

Here, the blocking device may be disposed in the water tank or the watertub.

In addition, the water tub may include a partition configured to divideinto a water supply space to which water is supplied from the watertank, and a water storage space configured to supply water to thehumidifying element, and provided with an opening configured to allowwater to flow from the water supply space into the water storage space;and a blocking device configured to close the opening of the partition.

In addition, the humidifier may further include a lifting deviceconfigured to raise the humidifying element.

In addition, the humidifier may further include a first cover and asecond cover provided in a front side and a rear side of the humidifyingelement, respectively, to support the humidifying element, wherein thefirst cover and the second cover are formed in a disk shape having aradius less than a radius of the humidifying element.

Here, the first cover may include an elastic hook protruding toward thesecond cover to be coupled to the second cover. The second cover mayinclude an insertion portion to which the elastic hook is coupled. Thehumidifying element may include a through hole through which the elastichook and the insertion portion are passed.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a humidifier includinga body, a water tub provided inside of the body to store water, ahumidifying element rotatably provided inside of the body and configuredto perform humidification by absorbing water from the water tub, and aresidual water removal mode in which the humidifying element evaporateswater so that the water does not remain in the water tub.

Here, the residual water removal mode may be terminated when theresidual water removal is completed since the humidifying element isrotated for a certain period of time, or the residual water may beterminated by a residual water removal stop instruction of a user.

In addition, in the residual water removal mode, the humidifying elementmay be rotated while an outer circumference of the humidifying elementis adjacent to the bottom of the water tub in order to absorb all waterremaining on the bottom of the water tub.

The humidifier may further include a blocking device configured toprevent water from being supplied to the water tub, wherein the blockingdevice may be operated in the residual water removal mode.

In addition, the humidifier may further include a lifting deviceconfigured to raise the humidifying element, wherein the lifting devicemay be operated when the residual water removal mode is terminated.

Still another aspect of the present invention provides a humidifierincluding: a body; a water tub provided inside of the body to storewater; a humidifying element configured to perform humidification byabsorbing water from the water tub; a blocking device configured toblock the supply of water in the water tub; a motor configured to rotatethe humidifying element; and a controller configured to perform aresidual water removal mode by controlling the blocking device and themotor.

In the residual water removal mode, the humidifying element may berotated while being adjacent to the bottom of the water tub in order toabsorb water on the bottom of the water tub.

In addition, the humidifier may further include a water tank configuredto supply water to the water tub. The blocking device may be disposed inthe water tank or the water tub to block a water outlet of the watertank. In the residual water removal mode, the controller may control theblocking device so that the blocking device prevents water from beingsupplied from the water tank to the water tub by blocking the wateroutlet of the water tank.

In addition, the water tub may include a partition configured to divideinto a water supply space to which water is supplied from the watertank, and a water storage space configured to supply water to thehumidifying element, and provided with an opening configured to allowwater to flow from the water supply space into the water storage space.The blocking device may be installed in the water tub to block theopening of the partition. In the residual water removal mode, thecontroller may control the blocking device so that the blocking deviceprevents water from being supplied from the water supply space to thewater storage space, by blocking the opening of the partition.

In addition, in the residual water removal mode, the controller maycontrol the blocking device so that the blocking device prevents waterfrom further supplying to the water tub, and the controller drives themotor to rotate the humidifying element.

In addition, the controller may stop the drive of the motor when acertain period of time, in which water remaining in the water tub iscompletely evaporated, is expired.

In addition, the humidifier may further include a residual waterdetection sensor configured to detect whether water remains in the watertub. The controller may stop the drive of the motor when remaining wateris not detected by the residual water detection sensor since waterremaining in the water tub is completely evaporated.

The humidifier may further include a lifting device configured to raisethe humidifying element when the residual water removal mode iscompleted in the residual water removal mode, or when the residual waterremoval is stopped by a user's instruction, the controller may drive thelifting device to raise the humidifying element.

Still another aspect of the present invention provides a control methodof a humidifier including performing a humidification mode by rotating ahumidifying element disposed to absorb water stored in a water tub; whena residual water removal mode is started, operating a blocking device toprevent water from being supplied to the water tub; and rotating thehumidifying element in a state in which the supply of water to the watertub is blocked.

In the residual water removal mode, the humidifying element may berotated while being adjacent to the bottom of the water tub in order toabsorb water on the bottom of the water tub.

In addition, the residual water removal mode may be automaticallyperformed when the humidification mode is terminated.

The control method may include stopping the rotation of the humidifyingelement when a certain period of time, in which all the remaining waterof the water tub is evaporated, is expired by counting a period of timefrom when the residual water removal mode is started.

In addition, the humidifier may further include a residual waterdetection sensor configured to detect whether water remains in the watertub, wherein the control method may include stopping the rotation of thehumidifying element when remaining water is not detected by the residualwater detection sensor since water remaining in the water tub iscompletely evaporated.

The residual water removal mode may be terminated when the residualwater removal is completed in the water tub, or the residual waterremoval mode may be terminated by a residual water removal stopinstruction of a user.

When the residual water removal mode is terminated, a lifting device maybe operated to raise the humidifying element.

Whether to perform the residual water removal mode when thehumidification mode is terminated may be preset and when thehumidification mode is terminated, the residual water removal mode maybe performed by determining whether the residual water removal mode isset or not.

When the humidification mode is terminated, the residual water removalmode may be performed by identifying whether to perform the residualwater removal mode.

A user can be provided with the hygienic humidification since it ispossible to completely evaporate water remaining in a water tub becausea humidifying element of a humidifier is disposed adjacent to the bottomof the water tub.

Since the humidifier has a structure configured to raise the humidifyingelement over the water surface of the water tub after the end of thehumidifying operation, it is possible to provide the hygienichumidification without contamination of the humidifying element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a humidifier accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating the humidifier of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front exploded perspective view illustrating the humidifierof FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the humidifierelement assembly of the humidifier of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the water tub and thehumidifier element assembly of the humidifier of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which thehumidifier element assembly of FIG. 5 is lifted.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views illustrating the water tub andthe water tank to illustrate an operation of a blocking device of thehumidifier in accordance with an embodiment.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views illustrating a water tub and awater tank to illustrate an operation of a blocking device of ahumidifier in accordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a control block diagram illustrating the humidifier accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for performing aresidual water removal mode in the humidifier according to anembodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a control method in which a residualwater removal stop instruction input step (405) is added to the controlmethod of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a control method in which a step toconfirm whether to perform the residual water removal mode is added tothe control method of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is flowchart illustrating a control method in which a step toraise the humidifying element is added to the control method of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is flowchart illustrating a control method in which a step toraise the humidifying element is added to the control method of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described in the present disclosure and configurations shownin the drawings are merely examples of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, and may be modified in various different ways at the time offiling of the present application to replace the embodiments anddrawings of the present disclosure.

In addition, the same reference numerals or signs shown in the drawingsof the present disclosure indicate elements or components performingsubstantially the same function.

Also, the terms used herein are used to describe the embodiments and arenot intended to limit and/or restrict the present disclosure. Thesingular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In thispresent disclosure, the terms “including”, “having”, and the like areused to specify features, numbers, steps, operations, elements,components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more of the features, elements, steps, operations,elements, components, or combinations thereof.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third,etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, but elements arenot limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish oneelement from another element. For example, without departing from thescope of the present disclosure, a first element may be termed as asecond element, and a second element may be termed as a first element.The term of “and/or” includes a plurality of combinations of relevantitems or any one item among a plurality of relevant items.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a humidifier accordingto an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating thehumidifier of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a front exploded perspective viewillustrating the humidifier of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, an humidifier 1 includes a body 10 forming anappearance thereof, a blowing fan 40 provided in the inside of the body10 to forcedly flow air, a water tub 200 provided in the inside of thebody 10, and an humidifying element assembly 10 rotatably provided inthe body 10 to perform the humidification by receiving the water fromthe water tub 200 and by evaporating the water.

The body 10 includes a main housing 11, a front cover 13 coupled to afront opening of the main housing 11, a side cover 14 coupled to a sideopening of the main housing 11, and an upper cover 12 coupled to anupper portion of the housing 11.

An inlet 11 a through which dry air in the indoor flows into the body 10may be provided in a rear surface of the main housing 11, and an outlet11 b through which air, which is moisture by being humidified in theinside of the body 10, is discharged to the indoor, may be provided inthe upper surface of the main housing 11. A grill portion 12 acorresponding to the outlet 11 b is provided on the upper cover 12.

Therefore, the dry air in the indoor flows into the inside of the body10 through the rear inlet 11 a of the body 10, and then humidified inthe inside of the body 10, and then flows upward through the outlet 11 bof the body 10.

This forced airflow may be performed by the blowing fan 40.Particularly, the blowing fan 40 may be a centrifugal fan, and theblowing fan 40 is rotated by a first motor 50 to generate airflow sothat air behind the body 10 moves upwardly of the body 10.

The front cover 13 may be provided with a display 20 configured to allowvarious information of the evaporative humidifier 1 to be displayed andan input 30 configured to allow various functions of the evaporativehumidifier 1 to be operated.

A humidifying element assembly 100 may be rotatably supported by asupport frame 90. The humidifying element assembly 100 may be rotated byreceiving a rotational force from a second motor 60.

The support frame 90 is coupled to the water tub 200. The humidifyingelement assembly 100 may be separated from the supporting frame 90.Therefore, after the side cover 14 is detached, the water tub 200 andthe humidifying element assembly 100 may be mounted or separated in theleft-to-right direction inside the body 10. The detail configuration ofthe humidifying element assembly 100 will be described later.

The humidifier 1 may further include a filter portion 80 configured topurify the air flowing into the body 10 and a water tank 70 configuredto supply water to the water tub 200.

The water tank 70 is configured to store water required for thehumidification and supply a proper amount of water to the water tub 200.The water tank 70 may be mounted to the water tub 200 in a cassettemanner. A structure of the water tank 70 and the water tub 200 will bedescribed later in detail.

The filter portion 80 may include a dust filter, and a deodorizationfilter. That is, the humidifier 1 may perform an air cleaning functiontogether. The filter portion 80 and the water tank 70 may be mounted ordetached to the inside of the body 10 in the vertical direction afterthe upper cover 12 is detached.

Hereinafter a configuration of the humidifying element assembly 100, thewater tub 200 and the water tank 70 will be described with reference toFIGS. 4 to 8.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the humidifierelement assembly of the humidifier of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is across-sectional view illustrating the water tub and the humidifierelement assembly of the humidifier of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is across-sectional view illustrating a state in which the humidifierelement assembly of FIG. 5 is lifted. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional viewillustrating the water tub and the water tank to illustrate an operationof a blocking device of the humidifier in accordance with an embodiment,and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a water tub and awater tank to illustrate an operation of a blocking device of ahumidifier in accordance with another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the humidifying element assembly 100 includes ahumidifying element 110 configured to absorb and vaporize water, and afirst cover 120 provided in the front side of the humidifying element110 to support the humidifying element 110, and a second cover 130provided in the rear side of the humidifying element 110 to support thehumidifying element 110.

The humidifying element 110 may be formed of a highly absorbent materialsuch as fibers or paper, and may have a substantially disc shape. Thehumidifying element 110 is provided to be immersed in the watercontained in the water tub 200, wherein the humidifying element 110directly absorbs the water in the water tub, keeps the absorbed water,and then performs the humidification on the air passing through thehumidifying element 110.

At this time, foreign materials such as dust contained in air arefiltered by the humidifying element 110, and thus only pure air may passthrough the humidifying element 110. Accordingly, the humidifyingelement 110 may perform the function of filtering together withhumidification.

In addition, the first cover 120 and the second cover 130 may have adisc shape having a radius smaller than a radius of the humidifyingelement 110. The first cover 120 and the second cover 130 may beintegrally injection molded by using a resin material.

The first cover 120 and the second cover 130 may be provided withrotating shafts 123 and 133, respectively and the humidifying element110 may be provided with a first through hole 111 through which therotating shafts 123 and 133 are passed. The rotating shafts 123 and 133may be rotatably supported by the support frame 90.

The first cover 120 may have an elastic hook 124 protruding toward thesecond cover 130 to be engaged with the second cover 130, and the secondcover 130 may have an insertion portion 134 into which the elastic hook124 is inserted. Therefore, as the elastic hook 124 is inserted into theinsertion portion 134, the first cover 120 may be coupled to the secondcover 130.

The elastic hook 124 and the insertion portion 134 may be disposed onouter portions 122 and 132 of the first cover 120 and the second cover130, respectively. The humidifying element 110 may be provided with asecond through hole 112 through which the elastic hook 124 and theinsertion portion 134 are passed.

When it is required that the first cover 120 and the second cover 130are separated from each other for the wash and the replacement of thehumidifying element 110, it may be possible to separate the first cover120 and the second cover 130 from each other by pressing the elastichooks 124.

Alternatively, other coupling structures other than the above-describedcoupling structure may be used as long as capable of separating thefirst cover 120 and the second cover 130 from each other.

Although not shown in the drawings, the first cover 120 and the secondcover 130 may form a water pocket on the outer portions 122 and 132 bycoupling to each other so as to supply water from the upper portion ofthe humidifying element 110.

As for the water pocket, when the water pocket is placed in a lowerside, the water pocket may accommodate the water of the water tub 200,and when the water pocket reaches the upper portion, the water may bedropped by a self-weight and thus the water pocket may supply water tothe upper portion of the humidifying element 110.

An outer periphery of the first cover 120 is provided with a toothedportion 125 to receive the rotational force from the second motor 60.Alternatively, the toothed portion 125 may be provided on the secondcover 130.

The first cover 120 and the second cover 130 may support the humidifyingelement 110. For this, the first cover 120 may include a first supportrib 121 configured to support the humidifying element 110.

The first support rib 121 may be disposed in a radial center of thefirst cover 120 and may have an approximately spoke shape to allow airto pass through the first cover 120.

Likewise, the second cover 130 may have a second support rib 131configured to support the humidifying element 110. The second supportrib 131 may be disposed in a radial center of the second cover 130 andmay also have a spoke shape to allow the air to pass through the secondcover 130.

Referring to FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, the water tub 200 is provided in thelower portion of the humidifying element assembly 100, and may receiveand store water supplied from the water tank 70. In this way, the waterstored in the water tub 200 is supplied to the humidifying element 110.

The water tub 200 may include a water supply space 202 configured toreceive water from the water tank 70 and a water storage space 201configured to store water, which is to be supplied to the humidificationelement 110.

The water supply space 202 and the water storage space 201 may bepartitioned by a partition 210. The partition 210 may be provided withan opening to allow water supplied from the water supply space 202 tosupply to the water storage space 201.

A cap 73 may be provided in a lower side of the water tank 70. The cap73 may be provided with a water outlet valve 72, wherein the wateroutlet valve 72 is configured to close a water outlet 71 when the watertank 70 is separated from the humidifier 1, and configured to open thewater outlet 71 when the water tank 70 is mounted to the humidifier 1.

A water supply protrusion 220 may be formed in the water supply space202 of the water tub 200 to open the water outlet valve 72 of the watertank 70 when the water tank 70 is mounted to the humidifier 1.

The humidifying element assembly 100 may be disposed such that an outercircumference thereof is adjacent to a bottom 203 of the water tub 200,so that the humidifying element 110 may absorb water at the bottom 203of the water tub 200. It is appropriate that the outer circumference ofthe humidifying element 110 is in contact with the bottom 203 of thewater tub 200.

Since a radius of the humidifying element 110 is larger than a radius ofthe first cover 120 and the second cover 130, the outer circumference ofthe humidifying element 110 may be in contact with the bottom 203 of thewater tub 200.

Referring to FIG. 6, the supporting frame 90 may be provided with alifting device 91 configured to raise the humidifying element assembly100. The lifting device 91 may raise the humidifying element 110 abovethe water surface of the water stored in the water tub 200 so that thehumidifying element 110 is not immersed in the water stored in the watertub 200.

During the humidifier 1 is being used, the lifting device 91 may belowered to allow the humidifying element 110 to absorb the water of thewater tub 200, and during the humidifier 1 is not used, the liftingdevice 91 may be raised so that the humidifying element 110 is notimmersed in the water in a state in which the water is stored in thewater tub 200.

According to an embodiment, the water supply protrusion 220 configuredto open the water outlet valve 72 of the water tank 70 may be used asthe blocking device 230 configured to block the water outlet valve 72.

FIG. 7A is a view illustrating a case in which the water outlet 71 isopened since the water supply protrusion 220 is raised and pushes up thewater outlet valve 72 of the water tank 70, and FIG. 7B is a viewillustrating a case in which the water outlet valve 72 of the water tank70 blocks the water outlet 71 since the water supply protrusion 220 israised.

Although not shown in the drawings, the water outlet valve 72 of thewater tank 70 may be opened by the blocking device 230 provided in thewater tank 70 when the water tank 70 is mounted to the humidifier 1 in astate in which the water supply protrusion 220 is not provided in thewater tub 200.

In this case, an electrically operated valve may be used as the wateroutlet valve 72 of the water tank 70, wherein the electrically operatedvalve may be configured such that the water tank 70 and the humidifier 1transmits an electric signal and a terminal is connected to allow thewater tank 70 to receive the power, when the water tank 70 is mounted tothe humidifier 1.

When the water blocking device 230 disposed in the water tub 200 or thewater tank 70 blocks the water outlet 71 of the water tank 70, water maybe prevent from being supplied from the water tank 70 to the water tub200 and thus the supply of water to the humidifying element 110 may bestopped.

According to another embodiment, the water outlet valve 72 of the watertank 70 may be opened by the water supply protrusion 220 provided in thewater supply space 202 of the water tub 200, and the opening 211 of thepartition 210 may be blocked by the blocking device 230, wherein theopening 211 is configured to allow water to flow from the water supplyspace 202 to the water storage space 201.

FIG. 8A is a view illustrating a state in which the opening 211 of thepartition 210 is opened since the blocking device 230 is raised, andFIG. 8B is a view illustrating a state in which the opening 211 of thepartition 210 is closed since the blocking device 230 is lowered.

Since the water, which is supplied to the water supply space 202 fromthe water tank 70, does not flow into the water storage space 201 whenthe blocking device 230 closes the opening 211 of the partition 210, thewater supply to the humidifying element 110 may be stopped.

FIG. 9 is a control block diagram illustrating the humidifier accordingto an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the humidifier 1 may include an input 30, adisplay 20, a controller 300 and a drive circuit 310.

The input 30 may receive a control instruction from a user. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the input 30 may be provided as a button type onthe front cover 12, but is not limited thereto. The input 30 mayimplemented by a dial, a switch, or a touch pad, but is not limitedthereto. The input 30 may include a variety of devices configured togenerate an electrical signal corresponding to an input by a user'smanipulation, such as pressing, touching, pressure, or rotating.

The display 20 may display information related to the humidifier 1 inaccordance with a display control signal of the controller 300. Thedisplay 20 may be configured to allow a user to identify an operationstate of the humidifier 1 by displaying user's operation state byrecognizing information inputted through the input 30, and by displayinga humidification mode state or a residual water removal mode state ofthe humidifier 1.

The display 20 may be disposed on the front cover 12 as illustrated inFIG. 1, but is not limited thereto. The display 20 may be implemented aliquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED), an organicemitting diode (OLED), an active matrix organic light emitting diode(AMOLED), a flexible display, or a three-dimensional display (3Ddisplay).

In response to a drive control signal of the controller 300, the drivecircuit 310 may drive the first motor 50, the second motor 60, theblocking device 230, and the lifting device 91, which are related to theoperation of the humidifier 1.

The first motor 50 rotates the blowing fan 40 and the second motor 60rotates the humidifying element assembly 100. The blocking device 230prevents water from being supplied to the water tub 200 from the watertank 70 or prevents water from flowing into the water storage space 201from the water supply space 202 of the water tub 200. The lifting device91 raises the humidifying element 110 over the water surface of waterremaining in the water tub 200 or the water storage space 201 of thewater tub 200.

The humidifier 1 may further include a residual water detection sensor320 and/or a memory 330. The residual water detection sensor 320 mayidentify whether water remains in the water tub 200, and transmitinformation to the controller 300. The memory 330 may store settinginformation such as whether to perform the residual water removalfunction when the use of the humidifier 1 is terminated.

Hereinafter an operation process and effect of the humidifier includingthe residual water removal mode, and a control method of the humidifieraccording to an embodiment will be described.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for performing aresidual water removal mode in the humidifier according to anembodiment.

As for a conventional evaporative humidifier, residual water is presentin a water tub even after a humidification operation is terminated. Thehumidifier 1 according to an embodiment includes a residual waterremoval mode in which the humidifying element 110 evaporates theresidual water of the water tub 200 so that water does not remain in thewater tub 200 after the humidification operation is completed.

Through the residual water removal mode, it may be possible to preventthe humidifying element 110 from being contaminated by fungi or bacteriaduring the humidifier 1 is not used, and it may be possible to performthe hygienic humidification since clean water is newly supplied to thewater tub 200 when the humidification operation is re-started.

The residual water removal mode may be started by a start instruction tostart the residual water removal mode, which is input by a user throughthe input 30. It may be possible to set the residual water removal modeto be automatically started by an end instruction of the humidificationmode, which is input by a user. The humidification mode represents anoperation state in which the humidification is performed by continuouslysupplying water to the humidifying element 110 while rotating thehumidifying element 110.

Referring to FIG. 10, when the residual water removal mode of thehumidifier 1 is started, the controller 300 may drive the blockingdevice 230 to prevent the water from being supplied to the water tub(401).

The step of blocking the supply of water to the water tub (401) includespreventing the water from being supplied to the water storage space 201since the blocking device 230 blocks the water outlet 71 of the watertank 70 and the blocking device 230 blocks the opening 211 provided inthe partition 210 of the water tub 200. That is, the step of blockingthe supply of water to the water tub (401) is to prevent water frombeing additionally supplying to the water tub 200 or the water storagespace 201.

When the residual water removal mode is started during the operation ofthe humidification mode, the controller 300 operates the second motor 60to continuously rotate the humidification element 110 to remove residualwater. On the other hand, when the residual water removal mode isstarted in a state in which the humidifying element 110 is not rotated,the controller 300 operates the second motor 60 to rotate thehumidifying element 110 (402).

In the residual water removal mode, the humidifying element 110 may berotated while the outer circumference of the humidifying element 110 isadjacent to the bottom 203 of the water tub 200, in order to absorb andevaporate all water remaining on the bottom of the water tub 200.Particularly, it may be appropriate that the outer circumference of thehumidifying element 110 is disposed in slightly contact with the bottom203 of the water tub 200. More particularly, in order not to generate anoise by the friction between the humidifying element 110 and the bottom203 of the water tub 200, it may be more appropriate that thehumidifying element 110 is disposed apart from the bottom 203 of thewater tub 200 by a distance, which allows all water in the water tub 200to be absorbed into the humidifying element 110 by the surface tensionof the water.

When the humidifying element 110 rotates to remove the residual water,the controller 300 determines whether the residual water removal iscompleted (403). When the humidifying element 110 rotates, absorbs andevaporates all the remaining water in the water tub 200, the removal ofthe remaining water is completed. The completion of the removal of theremaining water may not represent the termination of the residual waterremoval mode.

In the humidifier 1 according to the embodiment, a period of time inwhich all the remaining water of the water tub 200 is evaporated by therotation of the humidifying element 110, is stored in the memory 330.The controller 300 may count a period of time from when the residualwater removal mode is started, and when the counted period of timeexceeds the certain period of time, which is stored in the memory, thecontroller 300 may determine that the residual water removal iscompleted.

According to another embodiment, in order to identify whether waterremains in the water tub 200, the controller 300 may determine whetherthe residual water removal is completed or not, by using the residualwater detection sensor 320 provided in the water tub 200. When the waterin the water tub 200 is completely evaporated and the remaining water isnot detected by the residual water detection sensor 320, the controller300 determines that the residual water removal is completed.

When it is determined that the residual water removal is not completed,the controller 300 performs the residual water removal by continuouslyrotating the humidifying element 110 and determines again whether theresidual water removal is completed (403).

When it is determined that the residual water removal is completed, thecontroller 300 may stop the rotation of the humidifying element 110 bystopping the rotation of the second motor 60 (404), and thus theresidual water removal mode of the humidifier 1 may be terminated.

During the humidifier 1 performs the residual water removal mode, a usermay command stopping the residual water removal mode through the input30, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a control method in which aresidual water removal stop instruction input step (405) is added to thecontrol method of FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. 11, when a residual water removal stop instruction isinput by a user (405) in a state in which the humidifying element 110 isrotated (402) for the residual water removal since the residual waterremoval mode is started and the water supply to the water tub is stopped(401), the controller 300 may stop the rotation of the humidifyingelement 110 (404) by immediately stopping the operation of the secondmotor 60 and terminate the residual water removal.

When the residual water removal stop instruction is not input (405), thecontroller 300 may maintain the rotation of the humidifying element 110and determine whether the residual water removal is completed (403) bycounting a rotation time of the humidifying element 110 or by using aresidual water detection signal of the residual water detection sensor320. When the residual water removal is completed, the controller 300may stop the rotation of the humidifying element 110 and terminate theresidual water removal mode.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a control method in which a step toconfirm whether to perform the residual water removal mode is added tothe control method of FIG. 10.

As described above, the residual water removal mode may be started bythe start instruction of the residual water removal mode, which is inputby a user through the input 30. Alternatively, it may be possible to setsuch that the residual water removal mode is automatically started whenthe user's humidification mode end instruction is input, or it may bepossible to perform the residual water removal mode by allowing a userto confirm whether to perform the residual water removal mode, when theuser's humidification mode end instruction is input.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, the termination of the humidificationmode represents the beginning of the flowchart. When the humidificationmode is terminated, the controller 300 determines whether to perform theresidual water removal mode (407). The method of determining whether toperform the residual water removal mode may be a method of determiningwhether it is preset in the memory 330 or a method of determining byallowing the user to select through the input 30.

According to the former method, when it is possible to preset such thatthe residual water removal mode is started upon the termination of thehumidification mode, in the memory 330, the controller 300 may determinewhether the residual water removal mode is set in the memory 330 (407)when the humidification mode is terminated.

It may be set such that the humidifying element 110 is continuouslyrotated from when the humidification mode end instruction is input untilthe step (407) to confirm whether to perform the residual water removalmode, and when it is determined not to perform the residual waterremoval mode (407), the controller 300 stops the rotation of thehumidifying element 110 (404) and terminates.

On the other hand, when it is determined to perform the residual waterremoval mode (407), the humidifying element is continuously rotated toremove the residual water (402), and the water supply to the water tankis blocked (401).

According to the latter method, when determining whether to perform theresidual water removal mode, the controller 300 may display a questionof whether to perform the residual water removal mode, on the display 20and allow a user to confirm whether to perform the residual waterremoval mode (407), and when the user inputs the performance of theresidual water removal mode, to the input 30, the controller 300performs the residual water removal mode in response to the input.

Although not shown in the drawings, in the latter method, it may be setsuch that the rotation of the humidifying element 110 is immediatelystopped when the humidification mode end instruction is input. In thiscase, on the step of confirming whether to perform the residual waterremoval mode (407), when it is input such that the residual waterremoval mode is not to be performed, or when there is no input relatedto the performance of the residual water removal mode, the controller300 immediately terminates the mode, and when it is input such that theresidual water removal mode is to be performed, the controller 300 stopsthe supply of water to the water tub (401) and rotates the humidifyingelement 110 to remove the residual water, again (402).

The humidifier 1 may include the lifting device 91 configured to raisethe humidifying element 110 or the humidifying element assembly 100.FIGS. 13 and 14 are flowcharts illustrating a control method in which astep to raise the humidifying element is added to the control methods ofFIGS. 11 and 12.

Referring to FIG. 13, when the residual water removal is completed orwhen the residual water removal mode is interrupted by a user'sinstruction, the controller 300 stops the rotation of the humidifyingelement 110 (404), and the controller 300 drives the lifting device 91,wherein the lifting device 91 raises the humidifying element 110 so thatthe humidifying element 110 is not immerged in the residual water in thewater tub 200.

Referring to FIG. 14, when it is input such that the residual waterremoval mode is not to be performed (407), the controller 300 drives thelifting device 91, wherein the lifting device 91 raises the humidifyingelement 110 so that the humidifying element 110 is not immerged in theresidual water in the water tub 200.

In addition, although not shown in the drawings, it may be set such thatwhen the residual water removal mode is terminated, the lifting device91 is operated to raise the humidifying element 110.

While the present disclosure has been particularly described withreference to exemplary embodiments, it should be understood by those ofskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

1. A humidifier comprising: a body; a water tub provided inside of thebody to store water; and a humidifying element rotatably provided insideof the body and configured to perform humidification by absorbing waterfrom the water tub, wherein the humidifying element is disposed suchthat an outer circumference thereof is adjacent to a bottom of the watertub to absorb water in the bottom of the water tub.
 2. The humidifier ofclaim 1, wherein the humidifying element is disposed such that an outercircumference thereof is in contact with a bottom of the water tub. 3.The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising: a water tank configuredto supply water to the water tub; and a blocking device configured toblock a water outlet of the water tank to prevent water from beingsupplied to the water tub.
 4. The humidifier of claim 3, wherein theblocking device is disposed in the water tank or the water tub.
 5. Thehumidifier of claim 1, wherein the water tub comprises: a partitionconfigured to divide into a water supply space to which water issupplied from the water tank, and a water storage space configured tosupply water to the humidifying element, and provided with an openingconfigured to allow water to flow from the water supply space into thewater storage space; and a blocking device configured to close theopening of the partition.
 6. The humidifier of claim 1, furthercomprising a lifting device configured to raise the humidifying element.7. The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising a first cover and asecond cover provided in a front side and a rear side of the humidifyingelement, respectively, to support the humidifying element, wherein thefirst cover and the second cover are formed in a disk shape having aradius less than a radius of the humidifying element.
 8. The humidifierof claim 7, wherein: the first cover comprises an elastic hookprotruding toward the second cover to be coupled to the second cover,the second cover comprises an insertion portion to which the elastichook is coupled, and the humidifying element comprises a through holethrough which the elastic hook and the insertion portion are passed. 9.A humidifier comprising: a body; a water tub provided inside of the bodyto store water; a humidifying element configured to performhumidification by absorbing water from the water tub; a blocking deviceconfigured to block a supply of water in the water tub; a motorconfigured to rotate the humidifying element; and a controllerconfigured to perform a residual water removal mode by controlling theblocking device and the motor.
 10. The humidifier of claim 9, furthercomprising a water tank configured to supply water to the water tub,wherein: the blocking device is disposed in the water tank or the watertub to block a water outlet of the water tank, and in the residual waterremoval mode, the controller controls the blocking device so that theblocking device prevents water from being supplied from the water tankto the water tub by blocking the water outlet of the water tank.
 11. Thehumidifier of claim 9, wherein: the water tub comprises a partitionconfigured to divide into a water supply space to which water issupplied from the water tank, and a water storage space configured tosupply water to the humidifying element, and provided with an openingconfigured to allow water to flow from the water supply space into thewater storage space, the blocking device is installed in the water tubto block the opening of the partition, and in the residual water removalmode, the controller controls the blocking device so that the blockingdevice prevents water from being supplied from the water supply space tothe water storage space, by blocking the opening of the partition. 12.The humidifier of claim 9, wherein in the residual water removal mode,the controller controls the blocking device so that the blocking deviceprevents water from further supplying to the water tub, and thecontroller drives the motor to rotate the humidifying element.
 13. Thehumidifier of claim 12, wherein the controller stops the drive of themotor when a certain period of time, in which water remaining in thewater tub is completely evaporated, is expired.
 14. The humidifier ofclaim 12, further comprising a residual water detection sensorconfigured to detect whether water remains in the water tub, wherein thecontroller stops the drive of the motor when remaining water is notdetected by the residual water detection sensor since water remaining inthe water tub is completely evaporated.
 15. The humidifier of claim 12,further comprising a lifting device configured to raise the humidifyingelement, wherein when residual water removal is completed in theresidual water removal mode, or when the residual water removal isstopped by a user's instruction, the controller drives the liftingdevice to raise the humidifying element.